Community service clubs need homes for Loveland's Paint Our Town project

By Shelley Widhalm Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

Posted:
05/27/2013 08:50:09 PM MDT

If that house paint is looking less than spiffy, think about signing up for the second annual Paint Our Town.

The community service project aims to beautify neighborhoods while helping out Loveland residents who are financially or physically unable to repaint their homes. The deadline to sign up is June 28.

"It was so successful last year, people said let's do it again," said Steve Armfield, publicity chairman for the project and past president of the Breakfast Optimist Club of Loveland.

Last year, 183 volunteers painted 10 homes in one day on Sept. 15 -- the second Saturday in September. Ten Loveland service clubs sponsored the project, representing KLORS, or the Kiwanis, the Lions, the Optimists, Rotary and Sertoma.

Members and community volunteers helped paint the homes, but more volunteers are sought for this year to ease the workload.

If You Go

What: Second annual Paint Our Town project.

When: Applications are due by 5 p.m. June 28 for the painting project on Sept. 14. Submit to the Community Partnership Office, Attn: Alison Hade, 500 E. Third St., Suite 210, Loveland, CO 80537.

Where: Applications can be picked up at the Angel House, the Loveland Boys & Girls Club, Catholic Charities, the Food Bank for Larimer County, Loveland Habitat for Humanity, the House of Neighborly Service, the Loveland Housing Authority, Meals on Wheels, the Namaqua Center, the Office on Aging, Thompson Valley Preschool and Senior Alternatives in Transportation, or SAINTS.

The ideal number would be 250 volunteers, or 20 to 25 per home, said Jerry Westbrook, chairman of fundraising, committees and sponsorship for the project and past president of the Loveland Rotary Club.

"It gives us enough people to paint a home in six hours," Westbrook said.

This year, the homes will be painted on Saturday, Sept. 14. The homes are required to be one story for liability reasons.

The clubs involved in the project focus primarily on helping children, so this project aims to help a different population, that of adults and families, Armfield said.